What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Aronia Melanocarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Algin
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Isomalt
HumectantLecithin
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Bakuchiol, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Aronia Melanocarpa Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Algin, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Isomalt, Lecithin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Alcohol Denat., Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Parfum
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethylaminoethanol Tartrate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit
AstringentEthyl Vanillate
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Dimethylaminoethanol Tartrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Resveratrol, Ubiquinone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Panthenol, Allantoin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Bisabolol, Riboflavin, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rubus Idaeus Fruit, Ethyl Vanillate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilThis ingredient comes from a rare Swiss apple known as Uttwiler Spätlauber. It is produced from the cell cultures of the apple and not the fruit itself.
According to manufacturer studies, this ingredient has demonstrated the following benefits:
- Visible anti-wrinkle effect around the eye area (in vivo)
- Enhanced colony-forming efficiency of epidermal stem cells (in vitro)
- Improved ability of skin cells to regenerate and build new tissues in a 3D epidermis model (in vitro)
- Increased skin density (in vitro)
- Boosted vitality of epidermal stem cells (in vitro)
- Reversal of cellular aging signs in fibroblasts (in vitro)
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
